Rating: 3.79
(217)

Fettuccine Alfredo with Seared Scallops

August 8, 2023

Fettuccine Alfredo with Seared Scallops is a decadent, rich pasta dish that elevates the classic fettuccine Alfredo with the delicate, sweet flavor of perfectly seared scallops. This indulgent dish combines creamy Alfredo sauce with the tender texture of scallops, creating a beautifully balanced meal that feels both comforting and luxurious.

The fettuccine is cooked al dente, providing the perfect texture to pair with the silky Alfredo sauce. The sauce itself is made by combining butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, creating a rich and velvety coating for the pasta. Garlic and a pinch of nutmeg are often added to give the sauce depth and a hint of warmth, enhancing the flavor without overpowering the dish.

The scallops are the star of the show, seared in a hot pan with a bit of butter or olive oil until golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside. The caramelization of the scallops adds a slightly sweet, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the richness of the Alfredo sauce. Searing the scallops quickly ensures they stay juicy and delicate, providing a perfect contrast to the creamy pasta.

Once the fettuccine is coated in the Alfredo sauce, it’s served with the seared scallops placed on top, adding a touch of elegance and luxury to the dish. A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan, cracked black pepper, and a garnish of fresh parsley or chives add the final touches to this indulgent pasta dish.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Seared Scallops is a perfect meal for a special occasion, date night, or whenever you want to treat yourself to something both creamy and luxurious. The combination of tender pasta, rich Alfredo sauce, and sweet scallops is a showstopper that’s sure to impress.

In summary, this dish takes the classic comfort of fettuccine Alfredo and elevates it with the sweetness and elegance of seared scallops. The rich, creamy sauce complements the delicate seafood beautifully, making for a perfect, indulgent meal.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Seared Scallops
Fettuccine Alfredo with Seared Scallops
3.79 from 217 votes
Creamy fettuccine pasta topped with seared scallops for a decadent and delicious meal.
Servings 4 people
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces fettuccine pasta
  • 1 lb scallops
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • parsley chopped fresh for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • Season the scallops with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallops and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove scallops from skillet and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Reduce the heat to low and add the heavy cream to the skillet. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until the cream starts to thicken.
  • Add the grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet and stir until melted and creamy.
  • Add the cooked fettuccine pasta to the skillet and toss to coat with the Alfredo sauce.
  • Plate the pasta and top with seared scallops.
  • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 674kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 44gFat: 37gFiber: 2g
Calories: 674kcal
Meal Type: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: alfredo, Alfredo Sauce, fettuccine, scallop
Cooking Method: Boiled
Time: >45 Min
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Join the Conversation
  1. User avatar ezequiel.schumm says:

    3 stars
    Where’s the flavor? I added more garlic, but it still didn’t taste like much. Disappointed.

    1. 4 stars
      I think the lack of flavor might be due to the cream dominating everything. Maybe try adding some lemon zest or a little nutmeg next time? Just a thought!

  2. User avatar Cucco Keeper says:

    1 star
    This recipe is fake! I’ve seen different ones before. Must be a scam.

  3. User avatar lenny.jaskolski says:

    3 stars
    I left out the garlic cuz I hate it. Still turned out fine. Go figure!

  4. User avatar amado.rippin1969 says:

    5 stars
    I don’t know what alfredo sauce is, but my family loved it. Yummy! 😋

  5. User avatar lindsay.runolfsdottir9 says:

    4 stars
    Pretty tasty, but my sauce got a little too thick after the Parmesan went in. Next time I’ll warm the cream slightly and maybe reserve some pasta water to loosen it. Still, flavor was spot on.

    1. 5 stars
      Totally agree—Parmesan can clump up fast if the cream’s too cool or already too reduced. Warming the cream a bit before adding helps a lot. Also reserving pasta water is such a lifesaver for thinning without breaking the sauce.

  6. User avatar chae.quitzon says:

    3 stars
    I tried this and it was kinda bland. Maybe more seasoning? It was okay, but I expected more flavor.

    1. User avatar w00d_ch0p says:

      2 stars
      Bland? I thought it turned out really good! Must be your taste buds. 🤷‍♂️

    2. User avatar Ima B. Leever says:

      4 stars
      I totally agree! It definitely needs more seasoning. I added a bit of Italian herbs and it made a huge difference.

  7. 2 stars
    I don’t really get why people like scallops.🤔 They taste funny to me.

  8. User avatar jonathan.hauck85 says:

    5 stars
    The instructions are super straightforward and the timing works. I served it for guests and everybody asked for the recipe. Scallops + creamy pasta is a win.

  9. User avatar jolyn.hartmann says:

    3 stars
    I think it needs more garlic. I love garlic and 1 minute just wasn’t enough!

    1. User avatar rich.landlord says:

      3 stars
      Eh, I think 4 cloves is good. You don’t want it to overpower the scallops, right?

    2. User avatar antone.hermiston2006 says:

      5 stars
      I totally agree! Garlic makes everything better! More garlic next time for sure!

  10. User avatar Mystic Gohan says:

    5 stars
    Sooo good 😍 I didn’t even garnish with parsley (forgot), but it was still amazing. Will make again for date night!

    1. User avatar Grunthos the Flatulent says:

      5 stars
      Aww I love this! Parsley is optional—your sauce sounds like it nailed the creamy-garlicky vibe 😍 Date night win.

    2. User avatar fredrick.glover says:

      4 stars
      No parsley and still amazing… okay that’s convincing. I always worry Alfredo gets too thick though—did you end up thinning it with a splash of pasta water at all?

  11. 2 stars
    I think I messed it up. The sauce was too thick. Maybe I added too much cheese? Not what I expected.

  12. 2 stars
    Too rich for me, I think the cream is too much! Next time I might just do a light sauce.

  13. User avatar ashleigh.dooley31 says:

    2 stars
    Uthh, I burnt the scallops. How do you know when they are golden brown? Clearly not for me… 😩

  14. User avatar linwood.howell20 says:

    1 star
    This recipe is too easy, how can it taste good? I ain’t buying it.

  15. User avatar noble.windler58 says:

    4 stars
    Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about the portion—1 lb scallops for 8 oz pasta felt like a lot. But it worked! We definitely had leftovers for the scallops. The whole thing felt fancy without being hard.

  16. User avatar racquel.mclaughlin says:

    3 stars
    I think the recipe is too heavy with the cream. Next time I will use less.

    1. User avatar Li Shenlong says:

      4 stars
      I actually love it creamy! But I guess you can adjust it to your taste. 😊

  17. User avatar willard.farrell1950 says:

    2 stars
    Isn’t fettuccine alfredo supposed to have chicken? I don’t get why you use scallops…

  18. 3 stars
    Ingredients seem real rich, is there a lighter option? Don’t want my heart to explode.

    1. User avatar mathew.terry84 says:

      4 stars
      You could try using half and half instead of heavy cream! It makes it lighter but still creamy. Good luck!

  19. User avatar moises.hoppe53 says:

    4 stars
    Pretty good, but my sauce got a little thick too fast once I added the Parmesan. Next time I’ll lower the heat sooner and maybe reserve a splash of pasta water to loosen it.

  20. 3 stars
    I don’t know, I expected more flavor. The sauce was kinda bland. I might try adding some spices next time.

  21. 5 stars
    OMG, delicious! I want to make this for my birthday dinner.

    1. User avatar manda.fay66 says:

      5 stars
      Happy early birthday! This sounds amazing! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out.

  22. User avatar sherman.hickle12 says:

    4 stars
    Not bad, but 2-3 minutes per side for scallops felt short for my pan. I ended up cooking a little longer so they weren’t as translucent.

  23. 5 stars
    This looks delicious! I love scallops and can’t wait to try this recipe.

    1. User avatar jackeline.kautzer65 says:

      3 stars
      Looks good, but isn’t it a bit heavy with all that cream? Might try it with half the cream, lol.

    2. User avatar todd.ryan23 says:

      5 stars
      I totally agree! Scallops are the best. This recipe seems super easy to make too. Can’t wait to impress my friends!

  24. User avatar kattie.schultz66 says:

    4 stars
    Too much garlic for my taste, but the scallops came out really nice. Gonna try with less next time.

  25. User avatar leonel.spinka5 says:

    5 stars
    This turned out restaurant-level. The scallops were perfectly golden and the sauce actually stayed silky instead of getting weird. I used freshly grated Parm too—huge difference.

  26. User avatar hailey.berge74 says:

    4 stars
    Seems kinda fancy for a Tuesday night, but hey, why not? Gonna try it this weekend!

    1. 3 stars
      Fancy? More like too much work for a Tuesday! But if it turns out good, I might change my mind. Good luck!

    2. User avatar Emily Saunders says:

      5 stars
      I actually think this recipe is perfect for a special occasion! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you. Enjoy!

  27. User avatar renato.kshlerin93 says:

    5 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight—wow. The sauce is silky and the scallops came out perfectly golden. I added a tiny squeeze of lemon at the end and it really brightened everything. Great recipe!

  28. User avatar ward.walter2024 says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was amazing! The scallops were cooked perfectly and the sauce was to die for! Definitely a 5-star dish!

  29. User avatar patrick.skiles38 says:

    4 stars
    Followed it pretty closely, but I think my garlic maybe browned a bit because I was distracted. Still tasty though—next time I’ll keep it lower.

  30. 3 stars
    I forgot to buy parsley and my dish looked unfinished. Next time I won’t mess it up!

3.79 from 217 votes
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